Please excuse the mess - under construction.. :)

I'm playing around with my blog today - doing a bit of rearranging and tidying.  I've decided to combine my writing blog into this one, so excuse any 'new' posts that pop up!

Hopefully I'll have tidied up and put my tools away by tonight :)

Why are you following me?

Just curious..  I have 46 Google Followers, and feedburner tells me I have 37 subscribers through that - 23 of you by email.  Wow!  Most of you lurk (which is fine - I'm a lurker on many blogs!), but I'd love to know why you're here.  So if you could spare a few minutes to fill out the short poll on the side of my blog, I'll be eternally grateful :)

Happy blogiversary to me :)

Today marks 4 years since I started my blog.  My posting level waxes & wanes, but its now an integral part of my life.  Thanks to everyone who reads - especially those who comment.  The commenting keeps me going.. 

"you like me, you really like me..." :)

Its also my niece's 13th b'day today - she's very excited!  We're off to go 10 pin bowling and eat pizza in a little while to celebrate!

New look..

I've been playing. What do you think of my new look? (Well, my blog's new look - I still look the same!)

Are you on Facebook?

I initially joined Facebook because a couple of friends from online groups had drifted away from the group and were using it pretty exclusively. I wanted to keep in touch with what they were doing so I joined too.

I added a few friends that I knew and checked it sporadically. Now several groups that I'm on have moved across to it or use it in addition to their other forum. So I check it most days, leave a comment or two if I feel like it and keep in touch that way.

Do you facebook? (Is it actually a verb??!) If you do, and you'd like to be friends ('do you want to play with me?' lol), I'm Kez Ptol on there. Let me know who you are when you add me. A word of warning though - if you send me any hugs, gifts, flowers, animals or request that I join groups or participate in silly status updates etc, don't be offended when I don't play along :)

Ooops!

While I was writing the "our week of learning" post, I accidentally hit "Publish post" rather than "save" halfway through. So if you're reading on a feed reader and it looks kind of half-finished, you can read the proper one at my blog! Sorry!

Sisterhood Award

I was quite humbled to receive a blogging award last week from Belinda at Belinda's Place. Thanks Belinda - it means a lot!

So now for the hard part - to pass it on! (I hate leaving people out!)

The rules:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Be sure to link your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Remember to link the person from whom you received your award.

Here are a selection of my fellow "sister bloggers" who I feel show great attitude.

Suji at Funschooling.net - Suji is a fellow homeschooling Mum whose blog name says it all - Fun Schooling. She's always striving to give her son the best learning experience they can have.

Libby at Life is a Journey, Not a Destination - Libby has a great attitude! Over the last few years she has lost a substantial amount of weight and kept it off, and goes on the most amazing holidays with her family. Her exercising constantly puts me to shame!

Julie at Towards Sustainability - Julie is passionate about her garden and living sustainably. She seems to show no fear in jumping in to learn new skills - from embroidery, to jam making, to soap making! She is a great source of inspiration.

The following 3 ladies have really had a great influence on how I homeschool. They all have the best attitudes to life & learning!

Tiffany at Child's Play - Tiff does the most fun Maths lessons with her kids - seriously! I'm always inspired when I read her blog. She also takes amazing photos!

Alicia at Magic & Mayhem - Alicia and her family do the most fun things - her kids seem delightful and I wish we at least lived in the same country as them!

Stephani at Blue Yonder - As well as being an awesome artist, Stephani makes me laugh with her posts about her boys and their fun, adventurous life!

Sixth photo tag

Libby tagged me (*ahem* a week or so ago) with the 'sixth photo' tag. The rules are simple:

* Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.
* Go to the 6th Folder, then pick the 6th picture in that folder.
* Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the picture.
* Tag 6 other people that you know or don’t know to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog or an e-mail letting them know you chose them.

Here's mine:


This photo was taken at a play cafe when a few local mums got together back in 2006. The boys (Billy at the back) are about to dive into the ball pit - always a fun occupation!

So now, over to you.. I won't tag anyone but if you want to do it, leave me a comment to say you will.

(And I know I have several other tags to get to - I'm slack!!)

Front Door/Back Door Meme

Lisa, who lives in The Tin House, tagged me for the Front Door / Back Door Meme. It's an easy one - you just have to take photos from your front door and back door.

The first photo is taken from our front verandah and looking slightly left (downhill). You can see our new van in the driveway. The big brick structure in the middle is our letterbox, our side fence is where the big trees are.

The empty paddock across the road doesn't look like it will stay that way - we have received a DA from council a couple of times for about 4 houses there :(

Looking uphill you see our other side boundary just to the right the big tree.

The front is all pretty open and empty although we do have a couple of trees that one day in the future will be big - a flame tree, jacaranda and something else that I can't remember!

The back is more where we live. Looking out the back door to the left we have the swing set which doesn't get a lot of use and Billy's cubby (which was mine when I was a kid!) which gets a reasonable amount of use. Further back from there is the pond (you can see a line of bush rock as the edge) - which the frogs absolutely love - and which is cunningly situated under our bedroom window. Not a great idea on a hot day when frogs are mating!! That area is all surrounded by a row of grevilleas for privacy.


To the right from our back door is Zone 1 of the vege garden (in Permaculture terms - the area you visit most often) and the deck. This is where the majority of my admittedly small vege garden is atm otherwise if it's not close to me, it doesn't happen! I'm contemplating making this area a raised bed, but on the other hand I like the flexibility of being able to move the pots around to get the sun etc (and yes Julie, I know they're in styrofoam - sorry!!)

Our back neighbour's house is in the background - they have the most wonderful vege gardens. We have a row of citrus trees near the back fence - they're not doing that well and we have plans to move them.


If you step out on to the back deck you can see past the row of grevilleas! Up along the side fence towards the top of the photo is where the vege garden is supposed to be - I'm using that for stuff like potatoes, melons etc that don't need constant attention. The area in front of that is where the citrus trees are going to be moved to - we're ordering a whole heap more trees and making an orchard area in a circular pattern ala Linda Woodrow.



To the right from the back deck is our solar powered drier (aka clothes line!), our side fence, and looking over the neighbour's yards, our wonderful view.


I hope you've enjoyed that little peek into our yard - hopefully soon it will be much more productive!

I have no idea who else has done this - so please, if you want to, consider yourself tagged.

Food Porn Meme

Katrina & Lis have both tagged me for this meme, which originally started with Rosanne.

Here are the really simple rules.

Answer each of the five questions.

Tag five bloggers you would like to pass the meme to.

Have them link back to you and to this post as the source meme.
You and they can take the graphic from here if they like.

1. What food do you consider the best “date” food? In other words, what meal or food item do you think is sexiest to eat in the company of someone you would like to look sexy around?

I'd have to say fettucine carbonara - but I can be a bit messy when I'm eating it, so it may not be sexy to watch *me* eat it :)

2. What well-known person would you like to share a meal with—with or without clothing. (saying whether or not clothes are involved is optional).

Australian author and gardening guru Jackie French. She likes food, gardening & I find her a fascinating person. Definitely *with* clothing!

Although if we're talking sexy fantasy, then I wouldn't say no to David Tennant (Dr Who) - sexy grin. sexy eyes, sexy Scottish accent! He could be sans clothes :)

3. What does your perfect breakfast-in-bed look like? (Food AND the details, please. Candles? Music? Flowers? Hot tub? Dancing girls?

The main detail would be that it would be brunch, not breakfast (oh to sleep in late!! lol). Alone would be good too. No music, just silence; my favourite comfort breakfast - poached eggs & toast (with soldiers to dip of course!), and a cup of white tea.

4. What do you consider the best application of whipped cream to be?
Hmm, not a huge fan of whipped cream. Maybe with sticky date (sticky toffee) pudding?

5. Oh-God-No, Biff, the yacht is sinking! You are sent to the galley to retrieve the food. What luxury food items do you snatch first? The champagne? The caviar? Smoked Salmon? Truffles? Chocolate? Or something else?

Well if the yacht is sinking, anything will become a luxury very quickly! So to be practical, water & non-perishable foods.. To be frivolous, belgian chocolate...


I tag:
Mrs P at Golightly Place
Milk and Cookies - my favourite food blog
Libby
Miserly Mum
and Katrina

If anyone else wants to do it, consider yourself tagged.

Memes - The Big 8 and 7 random things

I've been tagged for a couple of memes recently and have just had a chance to look at them!

This one was hard!

8 Things I Am Passionate About
1. Family
2. Education choices
3. Frugal living
4. Being careful with the earth's resources
5. Friendships
6. Homecooking
7. Additives in food (see 6!)
8. Reading

8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die
1. Visit Egypt
2. Travel Europe again
3. Meet Helen (hi Helen!!)
4. Have grandchildren to spoil!
5. See more of Australia
6. Become more self-sufficient
7. Be debt-free!
8. Write a book

8 Things I Say Often
1. Billy, please stop talking!
2. Who left the light on???!
3. Quick, hurry up and ... (get dressed, get in the car, eat your tea.. ad infinitum)
4. I love you!
5. Are you listening to me?!
6. What was the best thing about today?
7. Argghhhh! I have so much to do!
8. There's no blood - you'll live :)

8 Books I've Read Recently
1. Lots of light trashy romance crap that don't need the brain turned on when I'm reading :)
2. Nurture by Nature by Paul Tieger
3. Blockade by Derek Hansen
4. Jane Eyre (currently reading it online via DailyLit)
5. Sole Survivor by Derek Hansen
6. Gardens of delight by Erica James
7. Secrets & Shadows by Mary Nickson
8. Getting started with homeschooling by Beverly Paine

8 Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over
1. Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams
2. Khe Sahn - Cold Chisel
3. Don't dream it's over - Crowded House
4. I don't like Mondays - Boomtown Rats
5. Daniel - Elton John
6. You're the one that I want - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (Grease soundtrack)
7. Constant craving - k.d.lang
8. To her door - Paul Kelly

8 Things that Attract Me to My Best Friends
1. Sense of humour
2. Similar interests - frugal living, vege gardening, homeschooling (not necessarily all in the same person!)
3. Non-aggressive
4. Honest
5. Similar philosophy in life
6. Positive
7. Make you feel good when you're with them - not constantly "taking"
8. Love of books

8 People Who Should Totally Do This Meme
1. Anyone who wants to! But beware - it's hard!

7 random or weird things

I was tagged by Lightening to do this one too.

Here are the meme rules:
Rules:
1- Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2- Share 7 random and or weird things about yourself.
3- Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4- Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So here goes with 7 things about ME:

1. I have vitiligo so I have blotchy white patches all over my body.

2. I am addicted to flavoured chips, particularly chicken & 'cheese & onion' - put them down in front of me and I will keep eating until they are gone!

3. I get obsessed with learning all I can about a particular topic - then once I've done it I move on to the next without doing anything about it!

4. I used to read the encyclopedia as a kid (see no 3 lol)

5. I used to own a copy of every book written by Jack Higgins (of "The Eagle Has Landed" fame) - including his pseudonyms.. I still own them but I'm sure he's written more by now!

6. I could live quite happily without a TV - but have a husband & child both addicted to it..

7. I had cravings for Hungry Jacks (like Burger King) when I was pregnant.

I'll tag:

Kin
Libby
Emma
Mrs P
Julie
Kate
Lisa

Actor's Studio Meme

While I'm busy catching up, Lightening tagged me ages ago for a meme, so here goes.

The Actors Studio 10 Questions Meme -

1. What is your favorite word?

I love words that roll off the tongue like "quintessential" or "penultimate". When I was a young teen I went through an obsession with the word "cute" - every thing was described as cute! It drove my parents mad - understandably!!

2. What is your least favorite word?

At this time of year - "politics" or "election" :)

3. What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?

Time by myself to recharge; watching a bubbling stream

4. What turns you off?

Rude or aggressive people

5. What sound or noise do you love?

Silence!

6. What sound or noise do you hate?

Finger nails down a blackboard, bottles sliding into styrofoam boxes

7. What is your favorite curse word? *

Unfortunately I use the F word too much. :( I wouldn't call it my favourite, but certainly my most used.. I'm trying to do better!

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Writer

9. What profession would you not like to do?

Childcare, Nursing

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Well, we've had to wait a while for you!

*If you do not wish to use the curse word on your site that’s ok and understandable - try and find one not so offensive instead, if you can, or alternatively star out some of the letters.

I think everyone's probably been tagged since I've left this so long, but if you want to do it, consider yourself tagged!

Picture Me Meme

I've been tagged by Lisa at The Tin House and Lis at Altered Cutlery to take part in the picture-me Meme. (I think that was all - sorry if I forgot anyone!) This was started by Kate at Our Red House:

"The rules are simple: post a picture of yourself on your blog. As some may feel uncomfortable posting a current photo, a baby or childhood picture is fine. Post the picture, tell us the story behind it, copy the logo, and tag three others (without forgetting to tell them that they have been tagged!)"

This photo was taken 3 or 4 days after Billy was born. The local paper used to send a photographer around to the hospitals to take photos of the new mums & bubs, and it then appeared in the weekly paper (I'm not sure if they do it anymore or not). Just before the photographer arrived, the "baby blues" hit me and I was a complete blubbering mess! The nurse ended up telling the photographer to come back later :) So my smile isn't quite as genuine as it could be - along with the fact that I hate getting my photo taken!

That done, I tag:

Emma at Em's Blog

Libby at Life is a Journey not a Destination

Mrs P at GoLightly Place

OK who does NOT find this addictive?!

Apologies for so many posts tonight, I promise this will be the last one, but I just found this http://play.blogger.com/. It's a page by Blogger to show all of the images being uploaded to blogger all over the world - you can click on it to go to the blog if it looks interesting..

I've been sitting here for a few minutes watching it - yes, I'm pathetic :)

Check out my moodget :)

.. over on the side.. Isn't it cute! I got it from http://www.labpixies.com/moodget/ - you can enter in your own words and choose your mood icon to display. It can go on your iGoogle page, blogs, myspace etc etc...

Can you tell I was procrastinating this morning??! The good news is (apart from finding the cute moodget lol) that I am *this* close to finishing off the website that has been taking up so much of my time. I finished the last major part of it today (being able to buy & sell gift certificates) and just have some tidying up to do - that is unless the client finds some more changes!

Blog Comments

How do you handle it when you leave a comment on someone's blog that you want to later check back to see if they've replied? Do you just add the URL to your favorites? Try to remember what you wrote where? Or ???

What's your technique?

Nice Matters Award!

I got all warm and fuzzy this morning when I woke up to find Susan over at Simply Living had awarded me the 'Nice Matters Award'. Awwwww thanks :)

The award was started by Bella-Enchanted

"This award will be awarded to those that are just nice people, good blog friends and those that inspire good feelings and inspiration! Those that care about others that are there to lend support or those that are just a positive influence in our blogging world!"

How nice is that!

So I in turn award it to:

A couple of 'old' internet friends: (as in I've known you guys for a while, not that you're old!!!)

Lightening

Libby

Kin

And some new internet friends:

Susan (yes I know you gave it to me - you get it back again!)

Lisa

Kris

I enjoy reading all of your blogs and the comments that you leave on mine. It's amazing how you can feel you know someone just from their blog!

Poll closed

Thanks to everyone who voted. The majority of you either don't care if I put homeschooling stuff in the same or separate blog, or want it in the same blog, so I'll keep it in this blog. Thanks :)

Poll

I've just created a poll on the side over there ---->

I'm 99% certain we're going ahead with homeschooling, but I want to talk to my mum & sister first. (Yep almost 37 and still need my mum's approval! lol) If I'm blogging about homeschooling stuff (what we get up to etc maybe on a day-to-day basis), would you prefer that to be in a separate blog so that if you're not interested you don't have to read it?

It makes no difference to me, just interested in "my readers" (lol) want..

Blog Posts I've liked lately

I've just set up a bit over on the side to share some of the blog posts I've liked recently. It should automatically update as I tag posts I come across - I like checking out new blogs, so hopefully you will too. Enjoy! Let me know if you like it :)